Ranking Glasses: Does this mean you don’t listen to Augustus Pablo’s versions of Studio One rhythms? Or most tunes from Channel One and Joe Gibbs? If you’re strict about only listening to original versions of rhythms, your listening must be severely restricted.

indeed, and exactly why I added that descriptor, to imply "deluxe" in every way. now the funny thing remains while they are 9 pounds in the uk they are 10$ retail at ernie b which is probably closer to 6 pounds and yet they came all the way over the ocean (maybe I am wrong but I think they are UK pressings). maybe its that VAT thing over there that kills ya.

one lovejb

And we're selling those at the same price to everyone. So Ernie is definitely being reasonable on his markup. $10 for a single nowadays is becoming the norm. Crazy, but a so it go... 9 pounds is steep, imho. but everything is so fukcing expensive in London. Dont like going there anymore...

Probably, but the reality is what we a deal with, and we have to cater to those people who buy the records nowadays. It is SO hard to sell records in this time, you have no idea. And cutting prices doesnt help move more units, I'm afraid. My buddies who sell at lower prices dont sell more copies.

I am toying with the idea of crowdfunding a release in the future, and maybe we could then sell at a lower price, if we get enough $$$. I'm following music projects on kickstarter to see if people with some good name recognition like Bootsy Collins are raising their budget...

Any other suggestion on this topic of selling records would be appreciated, because I have to admit I am short on ideas...

Ranking Glasses wrote:I don't get it? Why would I want to buy or listen to someone singing over classic rhythms? I would much rather have the original. What could be better then Dennis Brown singing Revolution on the Revolution rhythm? Peckings do this a lot with Treasure Isle and Studio 1 rhythms and it makes no sense to me at all. Artists need to originate and not to imitate.

As much as I usually agree with Jah Bill on lots his posts.... we've never heard ear to ear on this issue. I feel as Ranking Glasses does when it comes to singing over classic riddims - especially when it comes to those Treasure Isle 'redos'... I mean some of those Treasure Isle tracks and their original vocals were sooooo perfectly matched, they should never be touched by anyone else.

Peter Dalton wrote:Ranking Glasses: Does this mean you don’t listen to Augustus Pablo’s versions of Studio One rhythms? Or most tunes from Channel One and Joe Gibbs? If you’re strict about only listening to original versions of rhythms, your listening must be severely restricted.

Speaking only on the Channel One tunes --- if I'm not mistaken, aren't those reworked riddims ?? I don't mind when a riddim gets reworked to where it's a bit different than the originals,,,, that's more acceptable to my ear than just slapping a new vocal over an original riddim.

The Alpheus LP 'From Creation', I think several of those tracks were old riddims reworked and I went for that...

But as much as I love Vivian Jones' music, I didn't even buy his '50th' CD --- hearing anything else besides 'Queen Majesty' over that Treasure Isle original, it just aint gonna happen over these speakers

Peter Dalton wrote:Ranking Glasses: Does this mean you don’t listen to Augustus Pablo’s versions of Studio One rhythms? Or most tunes from Channel One and Joe Gibbs? If you’re strict about only listening to original versions of rhythms, your listening must be severely restricted.

I'm not talking about redoing rhythms as Joe Gibbs and Channel 1 did with great effect In the mid to late 70's. I'm talking about when the original rhythm is used for some wishy washy vocal decades later. It is possible to do this well and Sugar Minott was the master but Bitty McLean ain't no Sugar Minott!

As for my listening being restricted, you have no idea what I listen to or what I have in my collection but if you ever want a clash I'll give you a spanking with everything from Baba Brooks to Wes Brooks!

Riddleithat hit the nail on the head when he said that the original rhythm and vocals were perfectly matched. It can be equally as soul destroying the other way around as well. Does anyone remember that dreadful CD where they redid Bob Marley's voice over modern hip hop rhythms?

"especially when it comes to those Treasure Isle 'redos'... I mean some of those Treasure Isle tracks and their original vocals were sooooo perfectly matched, they should never be touched by anyone else". Incidentally, a good number of original riddims from TI used by Peckings and Bitty happen to be instrumentals by The Supersonics, so no big deal. Coxsone re-used a fair number of his own riddims in later days of his career for younger artists and they worked just fine, and they didn't even need to be named Sugar Minott. As much as i like Sugar, i don't think that BMcL is an inferior singer in any way. No need to try to belittle him for any reason that eludes me.

dude, that is what all these artists, and I do mean ALL of them, strive for. There is not an artist on Jamaica who wouldnt give their left nut for a pop chart hit, and i mean that literally. Come on man, you're sounding like a love sick teenager over there!

Ranking Glasses wrote:Johnny Osbourne was also great on the Studio 1 rhythms. I don't think that Bitty McLean is the strongest singer but he's ok. He lost a bit of credibility after those hits in the pop charts.

Bitty started his career with pop charts more than 20 years ago, after producing and mixing one of UB40's most successful studio albums. So that means he started with no cred.?.!.? Get real man.

No you're right he's right up there with Sugar Minott and Johnny Osbourne. In fact when I think of all the great reggae artists I've listened to over the past 45 years, he's right up there with Bob Marley, Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Slim Smith and John Holt. In fact, he's so good that he transcends reggae and would give Stevie Wonder, Sam Cook and Elvis Presley a run for their money.

Everyone is going to rush out and buy his new album trampling over old people and cats to get to the record shop. It will beat all previous sales records knocking "Thriller" into second place.

I don't think that I'm the one who needs to get real. He's a pleasant singer with obvious high standards but hardly ground-breaking or earth shattering.